Dallas Texans and Solar Share Top Winnings at State Cup

On the beautiful, cool, second weekend in May, a total of nine Dallas Texans teams made their way into the finals of the U11-U18 North Texas State Cup. The U12 boys' final pitted two Texans teams against each other, where the Dallas Texans Dallas team won a tough intra-club derby against Dallas Texans Red. As a whole, the Dallas Texans club walked away with five titles, winning the U11, U13 and U16 girls age groups, and U12 and U16 boys.

Solar also had a strong weekend, fighting their way into eight finals and matching Texans' haul of five State Cup trophies — the U12 and U18 girls crowns, and the U11, U13 and U17 boys.

The U12 girls' final was one of the best of the year, matching Solar Red against Sting Gutierrez, the latter of which needed a shootout to get past a fellow Sting squad in the semis. Having proven their mettle in close games, it was no surprise that Sting took Solar Red to double overtime in the final. Only this time., it was Solar who tallied the winning goal, denying Sting the chance for a second-straight shootout win.

"Coach Gutierrez always gives us a good game and this was no exception, with a fight to the finish," said Solar Red coach Adrian Solca, who was named the 2011 Region III Competitive Coach of the Year. "I congratulate her girls on a game well played."

FC Dallas Youth and Sting also had successful weekends, winning two State Cup titles each. FC Dallas Youth won U14 and U15 boys, while Sting won the U15 and U17 girls.

In the U18 boys' competition, Ayses Gold beat TFC in the final, avenging a loss to TFC in the round-robin portion of the competition.

Two teams in particular capped impressive seasons with State Cup wins.

FC Dallas Boys' Premier U14 won State Cup, Premier League West (8-0-1), and the Boys' Classic League, finishing with 17 wins and just one loss. Premier League West matched the top North Texas teams against the top teams from Oklahoma and South Texas.

Liverpool Elite Girls' U14, meanwhile, won State Cup,, the Lake Highlands Girls' Classic League (13-3-0) and took second in Premier League West with a record of 8-3-0.

The U13 to U19 North Texas State Cup winners advance to compete in the US Youth Soccer Southern Regionals, June 14-21, in Greenville, S.C. Winners of that competition will earn the right to represent North Texas and Region III at the most prestigious event in youth soccer, the US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 24-29 in Rock Hill, S.C.